Peaceful Incursion?

Cerea is a surprisingly Earth-like planet instead of a giant rock like the last planet. From space, they could see its blue oceans and the landmasses that reside in them. They didn't worry about their ship being found, because the Cerean people choose to live a life free of all technology.

They like remaining close to nature, even choosing for a majority of their people to live in tall buildings to take up as little surface area as possible.

Khan, Belia, and Habitat sat around the table in the bridge, looking at the results of their scans.

"Based on the fluctuations in the kyber crystals we have, we're getting similar results from the planet below." Habitat pulled up a hologram.

A circular planet with bright spots running through it like a network of tunnels appeared. "What you call Kasha is a different type of kyber crystal."

She zoomed in on the globe and pointed towards the largest deposit. "They seemed to have built their largest settlement over the biggest mine."

Khan looked at all the crystal deposits on the planet. His finger tapped on the table as he thought of the best course of action.

"Belia and I will sneak into their city. I want you to drop us off and take the Rattataki and droids in the three landing ships to different places to mine."

"Won't we need backup if we're going to attack the city?" Belia chimed in, a little confused why they were going alone.

"We aren't going in for frontal combat. Just like the Sith Race had their magick, this species has something that increases the effect of their crystals. Some kind of script or runes." Khan shook his head.

He's been studying the sith runes and he knows symbols contain power. When he learns Sith Alchemy, more knowledge will be helpful.

"Let Sheva run the mining mission Habitat, observe how she performs. If she can't even do this she's worthless."

"I'll only give her information and not suggestions." Habitat naturally agreed. She had no reason to disobey Khan, plus the simple fact she couldn't.

Habitat began informing Sheva and the Rattataki to meet them at the hangar.

"We can't wear our armor, just take our robes and sabers." Khan turned to Belia.

"So you're still expecting an altercation." The corners of her lips rose.

Khan shook his head and stood up. Belia followed him to the elevator and they went to their rooms. Khan changed into a simple loose black tunic and pants with a dark purple robe to cover it.

Belia's tunic was white and her robes were dark gray. They met up in the hall and went down to the third deck.

By the time they got to the hangar, a few assault droids and SB-28s were already boarding the ships along with the Rattataki.

Sheva split the group onto the three ships to provide support to the droids. They were equipped with simple leather armor and given advanced blaster rifles.

"Come on move faster!" She kicked one of the Rattataki in the back and shoved them aboard the ship.

When she sensed Khan and Belia approaching she turned around. When she moved to drop to a knee, Khan held out his hand and forced her body to remain in position.

Since performing the small ritual to channel force lightning, he felt the power under his control had grown. The price is the rate at which his body is corroded by dark side energy. If the power grows beyond what his body can contain, his flesh will start to degrade.

"You don't need to drop to your knees every time you see me. I don't need such acts of vanity." Khan dropped his hand.

"This is your first mission, try to be discreet. Leave no witnesses, get the crystals and capture any who see you." His voice seemed to carry power, gone was the calm tone he used with Belia.

"Yes my Master, I will not fail you." Sheva took a deep breath, knowing this was her chance to show her worth. After training with the droids for a few days she knew she could do nothing without a teacher.

As it stands, she can barely block blaster fire with her saber, as long as the rate of fire is not too high. She's seen Belia charge into a platoon of soldiers unimpeded and wanted that kind of power.

Belia smiled at Sheva as they walked past her and boarded the ship. She hopes this girl can survive, she found her interesting and fun.

Sheva boarded the ship and all three took off under the gaze of Habitat.

Unless she had to, her body won't leave too far from her main servers on the ship. She is the last line of defense. If something happened to it, she would lose her connection to all the droids and her processing power would plummet to that of a normal droid.

When the ships flew out of the hanger, Habitat steered Prometheus towards an asteroid belt to mine for metal.

Khan stood in the cockpit and watched the ship approach the planet. A Rattataki is piloting the ship while following the instructions of the onboard computer.

To avoid being seen, the ships went towards a vast area of forest and hovered above the trees. 

"This ship has a map leading to areas of high concentration of crystals." Khan glanced at Sheva and gave her the last bit of advice.

Before she could speak, Belia and Khan jumped off the ramp.

They jumped from tree branch to tree branch till they touched the ground.

"It feels like we're back home." Belia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Taking in the feeling of nature all around her.

Khan watched as the ships flew towards an area of dense mountains. "This planet is teeming with life, the living force on this planet is very strong."

"Maybe that's why it could produce a form of kyber crystal? Or is it like this because the kyber crystal grew here?" Belia led the way forward, her hand rubbed against the trunks of trees as she did.

This was one of the abilities they discussed. To see if her talent extended to controlling plants.

"This area may be a focal point in the force. That's why the crystals were produced here." Khan followed behind, his eyes scanned the strange critters and birds scurrying between the trees.

"The animals here are too peaceful, they don't have that sense of urgency installed by predators." He found it strange the animals didn't run when the ship approached.

"Didn't you say the crystals had a calming effect? Maybe that's the reason." Belia shrugged her shoulders.

It took a while to walk out of the forest, giving Belia time to understand and feel the essence of nature around her.

Out of the forest was a large plane. Wildflowers and fields of crops stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Why do they need so much food? The planet already isn't very big and they use most of it to farm?" Belia touched the stalk of some kind of vegetable.

"They have binary brains and two hearts just to pump enough blood. A lot of the body's nutrients are used to supply the brain." Khan looked into the distance, he could sense there were people there.

He closed his eyes and reached out with the force. A wave spread through the air until he felt the presence of six people.

He concentrated on two people and clenched his fist. The force invaded their bodies and impacted their will.

They resisted him at first with their incredible mental abilities, but the force crashed into them relentlessly.

Their eyes turned dull and they made their way towards Khan.

Belia's eyes widened when she saw the two Cerean females. They were already tall, but their long cone-shaped heads were a peculiar sight.

"Incredible, how big is their brain to take up so much space?" She reached up and touched one of their heads. It felt slightly mushy, a layer of fat protected their skull.

When they got closer Khan's control over them increased. Their eyes returned to normal, but when they saw Khan it was like they saw their god.

"Master!" The two called out respectfully in a language they couldn't understand.

Khan totally dominated their minds through the dark side. As long as they aren't stimulated mentally or he doesn't exceed his limit, they can't break his control. The more excessive the command the more likely they're to break free, so the ability had its limits for now.

If his mastery increased, he could force them to do more things counter their will and eventually make them

kill themselves.

Khan walked in front of the two and placed his hands on their forehead. He already had access to their minds and stole their memories.

"You two will wait for me in the nearby forest. Without my command, you aren't allowed to leave." Khan waved his hand and dismissed them when he got everything they needed.

"Yes, Master." When they spoke this time he could understand them perfectly.

The two walked past them and followed the trail Khan and Belia used to get here.

"The dark side has too many useful abilities." Belia shook her head, a little jealous of the amount of control Khan can exert over someone's mind.

"You can do it too, the light side can glamour people as well. You just never practice it." Khan moved in front of Belia and touched his forehead against hers.

Their minds are linked from their natural telepathic abilities. He shared everything he learned from one of the women and their bodies began to change.

Flesh expanded from their robes and covered their clothes, their bodies grew taller, and their heads extended into a cone.

The thin layer of flesh covering their clothes transformed into a replica of the gowns the woman wore. Their appearance changed to look just like the woman, down to every last wrinkle or fold.

When they separated their heads, they transformed into two Cerean women.